Device to facilitate the pressing of sleeves of garments on steam air presses



Aug- 9, 19 c. E. JOURNEY ETAL 7 2,948,447

mzvxcamo FACILITATE THE PRESSING 0F SLEEVES I OF GARMENTS ON STEAM AIR PRESSES Filed July 28, 1958 INVENTQRS Clarence E. Journey Harvey E. Caldwell ATTORNEY;

United States Patent Q' DEVICE 'ro FAICEITATE THE PRESSING or or GARMENTS N STEAM Am Clarence E. Journey, P.0. Drawer 1430, and Harvey E. Caldwell, P.0. Box 171, both of St. Augustine, Fla.

7 Filed July 28, 19-58, Ser. No. 751,264

7 Claims. (Cl. 223-74) comprising a pair of elongated curved sleeve shaping members with spring means normally urging them apart; thespring means being of a novel construction which will permit expansion with full pressure, and adjustment of suchpressure under such circumstances that the operator will be able to manipulate the same with very little client for the very effective shaping of the sleeve.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a light-weight economically constructed, durable and effioient type of device to facilitate the pressing of sleeves on steam air presses; means being provided to vary spring pressure so the device can be used for the pressing of large sleeves as well as small sleeves.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved device to permit the eflicient forming and shaping of sleeves in garments in a steam air press and which has means normally extended at the outer end of the sleeve to permit resilient positioning of a pair of shaping members whereby a desired pressure may be applied suitable to the shape and size of sleeve being pressed.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved device used to press sleeves of garments on steam air presses which has the parts so assembled and arranged as to eliminate damage to garments and refinishing costs.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved sleeve pressing and shaping device applied in pressing position within a sleeve.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the sleeve pressing and shaping device in fully expanded position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1, and more particularly showing the sleeve holding members and springs associated therewith.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the means which connects the ends of a pair of bowed springs used with the improved sleeve pressing and shaping device.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 5--5 of Figure 4, and more particularly showing the end connections of the two bowed springs in the spring connecting means.

' Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a pivot Patented Aug. 9, 1960 2 cylinder used to pivot the ends of one of the springs upon the pivot connection means at the ends of the springs.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only a preferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generally designate the sleeve pressing and shaping device. It comprises a pair of sleeve shaping and holding members 10 and 11. Preferably they are formed of well-seasoned red cedar wood, which does not absorb moisture and dries instantly after immersion in steam. This is important to avoid the hazard of moisture condensation of steam, which might water spot the material of the garment. These members 10 and 11 are respectively referred to as the convex strip and the concave strip. They are of the same degree of curvature. The undersides 12 thereof are straight line in cross section, and the outer surfacing 13 thereof is convexed in cross section. !The ends 14 are convexly arcuated from the surfacing 13 to intersect with the surfacing 12.

The member 10 has its outer curved surfacing 13 convexly shaped longitudinally of the strip. In contrast, the member 11' has its inside surfacing 12 convexly shaped longitudinally of the strip and the outer surfacing 13- thereof concavely shaped longitudinally of the strip.

These strips are substantially of the same length, and

by way of example, they are each twenty-one inches (21") in length, and three fourths of an inch GA) in maximum width and approximately one half inch /2") thick.

The device A furthermore includes a pair of bowed springs 20 and 21, the convex sides thereof being secured to the surfaces 12 and 12 of the strips 10 and 11, by wood screws 22. These wood screws 22 are spaced about two inches (2") apart and located intermediate the ends of the strips, but closer to those ends of the strips which normally protrude from the sleeve during the pressing operation.

The springs 20 and 21 are leaf-type springs, each being preferably about twenty-two inches (22") long and three eighths of an inch wide and having the thickness of 0.042. They are completely covered with absorbent white rayon or cotton flock for the purpose of absorbing any steam moisture and thus preventing condensation of water droplets on the steel, which might spot the garment material during the pressing operation.

The'springs 20 and 21 close to the ends which normally project from the sleeves are reversely curved at 2t) and 21", as shown in the normally expanded view of Figure 2. Remembering that the springs are connected at their complementary ends by means to be subsequently described, these reversely curved springs enable greater spring pressure to be developed, with greater ease upon the part of the operator when squeezing the strips 10 and 11 together at the time of application or removal of the device with respect to a garment sleeve.

, Referring to the means for connecting the proximate ends of the springs 20 and 21 together, such connecting means is generally designated at 30 in the drawings, and consists, at each of the proximate ends of the springs, of a light-weight, preferably aluminum cylinder or bear ing 31 fixed to the spring 21 which is cylindrically recessed or notched at 32 inwardly but contacting the outer peripheral surfacing 33 thereof.

The ends of the spring 20 are each clamped in a rotatable brass pivot or cylinder 35 which rotatably fits in the notch 32; the same being slipped transversely therethrough parallel with the axis of the cylinder 31. The cylinder 35 preferably has a transverse notch '37 therein into which the end of the spring is slipped. Cylinder 35 may be hollow and the end of the spring 20 crimped at 38 in this passageway, in order to effectively hold the spring in position against removal from the brass cylinder 35. Merely by way of example, the aluminum cylinder. 31 will have a diameter of five eighths of an inch It is three eighths of an inch in width along its axis. audit is provided with a bore 40. centrally thereof.

The brass cylinder 35 is about one quarter inch A") in diameter and of the same Width as the cylinder 31, that is, three eighths of an inch It is provided with the slot 37 which may be 0.040 inch in width.

Some means must be provided to prevent lateral slip ping of the cylinders 35 from notches 32 and lateral slipping of the ends of the spring 21 from the notches 43. To that end, it is preferred to provide a shaft 41 disposed in the passageway 40 of the cylinder 31, having heads 42 which cover the secured ends of the strips 20 and 21. In lieu of this arrangement detachable caps maybe provided, and one way of doing this would be to use-thumb tacks, the heads of which would replace the heads 42 of the construction above described, and the-prongs'of which would enter the central portion of the cylinder 31 and be frictionally retained therein.-

Both ends of the bowed spring 20 are secured to the cylinders 31 by the brass cylinders 35, and both ends of the spring 21 are secured in the-slots 43 of the cylinder 31' as described. In the assembly of the device, the springs for the major lengths are convexly bowed outwardly, from which position, as shown in Figure 2, they-may be compressed to more or less flatten out the springs. Under these circumstances, the cylinders 35 rotate in their notches 32. The reverse curved portions 20 and 21 have their concave sides facing outwardly,

Additional means may be provided to increase theforce necessary to compress the springs. This consists of providing a loop 50 of the same material as the spring steel of the springs 20 and 21, and pivoted at 51 upon the inside surface of the spring 21 adjacent to that end of the spring 21 having the reverse curved portion 21'. It is placed between the reverse curved portion 21 and the pivot connection 30 of the two springs 20 and 21 adjacent thereto. This loop is quite small, being formed of a three and three fourth inch (3%") strip of spring steel. When looped it is rather strong and takes considerable force to flex thesame. The loop 50 may be positioned as shown in Figure 2 in an out-of-the-way position, and under these circumstances the springs 20 and 231 will do all of the expanding action in forcing the strips and 11 apart during the pressing operation upon small sized sleeves. However, if'it is desired to increase the force of the springs necessary to proximately movethe strips 10 and 11, the loop 50' may be moved to the position shown in Figure 1, and then it will engage the inner surface of the other spring 20 as the springs are compressed in order to increase the force necessary to compress the springs and bring the'strips together. This loop is used for larger sleeves Where additional force may be necessary in order to insure the proper position of the strips 10- and 11 for the pressing or 'forming operation. The loop 50 can also be moved to a position at 90 between the positions shown in Figures l and 2 so the loop thereof may be laterally positioned in an out-of-the-way position, should it become necessary to use the device in pressing sleeves of extremely small width.

In use, the operator takes the strips 10 and 11 in his hands at the location adjacent to the loop 50 and with a slight squeeze he can compress the springs so that the opposite ends of the strips 10 and 11 may be slipped into the sleeve for the proper length. It will be noted that the springs at the bottom of the sleeve project from the bottom edge 60 of a sleeve 61 which is being pressed, in order that the loop 50 may be readily adjusted without reaching into the sleeve should it be necessary to increase the expansion force of the springs. Steam from the machine is turned on after the device has been placed in the sleeve andthe garment is enveloped in steam for say one minute. The hot air is then turned on and the gar- 4' meat is dried for one minute. If the pressure loop is 1n the position shown in Figure 1, it is turned by the operator to release some of the spring action, and the lower end of the sleever is grasped by the operator and squeezed together. The sleever may then be readily slipped out of the sleeve.

Various changes in the size, shape andarrangement of parts may be made to the form of 'invention'here'in shown and described, without departing from the spiritof the invention, or scope of the claims.

We claim:

1. In a sleeve pressing and shaping 'device,-'the combination of a pair of elongated sleeve conforming strips, a pair of bowed springs connected at their convex sides one to each of the'facing surfaces of each of said strips intermediate the ends of the strips, means connecting the ends of said springs together, each of said springs when expanded having a reversely curved portion intermediate the points of connection to the strips andoneofthe connected ends of the springs.

2. In a sleeve pressing and shaping device, the combination of a pair. of garment sleeve elongated shaping strips adapted to fit within the sleeve at opposite sides of the sleeve during a pressing operation, a pair-l of bowed springs connected intermediate their ends, one to the inner surface of each of said strips intermediate the ends:of the latter, and means mounted on at least one of said springs adapted to engage the. other spring as-said springs are compressed together for normally increasing the expansion action of said springs when under compression normally tending to force said strips apart.

3. In a sleeve pressing; and shaping device, the combination of a pair of elongated strips adapted to fit at opposite sides of the sleeve within the sleeve during a pressing operation, a pair ofbowed springs havingthe intermediate convexed portions thereof secured, onec'to each strip, intermediate the ends of the strips, means connecting the proximate ends of said springs: together, the said springs adjacent one end of the device each having a portion extending beyond the extreme adjacent ends of the said strips, and means mounted uponsaid" one of the springs where the same extendsbeyond the adjacent end of said strips to variably adjust the expansion force of the springs when under compression actionnormally tending to force said strips apart, said last mentioned means normally extending outwardly from the outer. end of the sleeve of the garment being pressed.

'4. In a sleeve pressing and shaping device, the combination of a pair of elongated strips adapted to fit at opposite sides of the sleeve within the sleeve duringt'a pressing operation, a pair of bowedsprings havingthe intermediate convexed portions thereof secured, one to each strip, intermediate the ends of the strips, means con necting the proximate ends of said springstogeth'er," the said springs adjacent one endof the deviceeach having a portion extendingbeyond the extreme adjacentends of the said strips, the portions of each of the springs ad-' jacent to those ends of the springs which'normally'extend outwardly beyond the ends of the'strips each'having a reverse curve therein when in expanded position.

5. In a sleeve pressing and shaping device, the combination of a pair of elongated sleeveshaping strips, a pair of bowed springs, one being connected intermediate its ends to the intermediate portion of one ofsaid strips and the other being connected intermediate its ends to the intermediate portion of the other strip, andmeans connecting the proximate ends of said springsttogether comprising a bearing fixed on one spring and a fixed pivot on the end of the other spring rotatably mounted upon said bearing, the springs adjacent to one of isaidrpivot connections each being reversely curved, and means mounted on one of said springs close to one of. said pivot connections for engaging the other-spring as said springs are compressed for increasing the expansive action of said springs.

6. In a sleeve pressing and shaping device adapted to be used for the pressing of sleeves upon steam air machines, the combination of a pair of red cedar wood elongated strips which are bowed lengthwise, a pair of leaf type bowed springs, the convex side of one bowed spring being secured intermediate its ends to the intermediate portion of the concave side of one strip and the other bowed spring being secured at its convex side intermediate its ends to the intermediate port-ion of the convex side of the other strip, and pivot means mounting the proximate ends of said springs together, said springs being so connected to the strips that one end of each at one pivot location of said springs projects appreciably beyond the proximate ends of said strips, the end of each spring at that pivot location which projects appreciably beyond the proximate ends of said strips being reversely curved when the springs are in rest noncompressed condition.

7. A sleeve pressing and shaping device as described in claim 6 in which one of said springs adjacent to that 6 pivot connection of the springs which extends beyond the proximate ends of said strips has a laterally movable loop pivoted thereto between said springs which may be positioned in the plane of the springs to engage the other spring as the springs are brought into compression for increasing the force action of the springs and which loop when moved to a lateral position with respect to the plane of the springs will be positioned to avoid engagement with the said other spring as said springs are com- 10 pressed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

